Page 78 of Nocere

"I am. She's very normal. Unlike Frankie."

"Frankie isn't abnormal. She's just not a good match for you. Between her short fuse and how she intimidates you, it doesn't work out well."

"It doesn't. I don't love her, but no one else showed me any attention. You know?" She glanced at me and I nodded.

"They don't show you attention because people think you’re with Frankie. You two act that way sometimes. I mean not lately, but on and off over the years."

"True. Well, Sara is new to our friend circle so maybe that helps," she said.

"Maybe. Where's Frankie been anyway?"

"She's been hanging out with Kari. The two of them are a thing."

I paused as my mind pieced together what the two of them would look like as a couple. "That could really work."

"Oh, yeah." Alex nodded, laughing through it. "Frankie will hold Kari accountable, and Kari will fight back Frankie's nonsense."

"Agreed. Well, good for them, perhaps."

"Uh huh." Alex whipped her spoon in the air.

"Did you change the sheets? I'm not sleeping in a sex bed, by the way."

She laughed and nodded. "I did. I really need my own place. But I like it here with you. It's less lonely."

"It is. Does it bother you when I'm at Sam's?"

"Nah. I know you're having fun so it works out and I get the bed." She snickered and it made me smile.

"Good. We can share the bed, you know. I don't care."

"Will your girlfriend care?"

"Probably, but mostly because she's not the one in the bed. She knows we're sisterly."

"Good. We can always sleep oppositely. Or you know, move into a two bedroom."

"We could…" I glanced around the place then back to her. "Maybe if something opens up in this building."

"Well, we'll see."

"I'm going to grab a shower then head to bed." I stood and stretched out.

"Mmmkay." She returned to eating her ice cream. "Night, boo."

I laughed at her term of endearment. "Night."

Work the next morning turned into a circus at best. Stiles requested that I set up my work on the serial rapist timeline in the conference room, and by the time I finished, a dozen people filled the room. I turned around to see Stiles talking to Sadie, Walsh, and Eve. Sadie waved me over and I joined them once I finished pinning the map.

"We've shared this information with the FBI, Bryant," said Walsh, nodding to me. "Good work. They had some of these attacks on their radar, but not to this capacity."

"Are they coming here today?" I asked, glancing to the intern who rolled in a tray of coffee and pastries.

"They are."

"Do I have to stay?" I returned my gaze to him and noted how my hands wrung together at my waist when the crowd increased.

"You don't have to. Stiles is citing your work in his presentation, but staying around for the kudos might tickle your fancy." Walsh grumble-talked like always before taking a hit off his illicit vape pen. "Up to you, Bryant."

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